Moscow–Constantinople schism

The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate released a statement on Wednesday urging the Russian Orthodox Church and its leader, Patriarch Kirill, to end their support for Russia's war in Ukraine and cease interference in other regions, particularly Africa.

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew invited more than 50 lonely Greeks from Istanbul to celebrate Christmas together with their spiritual father in a family-like atmosphere.

Greece's Orthodox bishops have called for the "peaceful and constructive coexistence of Christians and Muslims" in Syria to be maintained, saying that any "uprooting Orthodox Christianity from Syria" would be "sacrilegious in the eyes of history."

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, based in Istanbul, has once again proposed the idea of celebrating Easter on the same day for both the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.

Environment-friendly behavior is integral to Greek Orthodox identity, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew said during a speech on Sunday at an event focused on the Church and the environment, held at the Metropolis of Polyani and Kilkis in northern Greece.

Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil raised concerns about religious discrimination in Ukraine during a meeting with American Ambassador Kenneth Merten. The Patriarch highlighted the significant factual and legal constraints imposed on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, attributing these issues to discriminatory policies by certain elements within Ukraine.

The Monastery of the Caves, also known as Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, one of the holiest sites of Eastern Orthodox Christians, in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, March 23, 2023.

Ukraine's parliament voted Tuesday to ban the Russian-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), a move Kiev says strengthens its independence as the country severs ties with institutions it considers aligned with Moscow.

The Bulgarian Patriarch has joined an initiative by church leaders who support the Moscow Patriarchate's stance on the non-recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Alongside Patriarch Daniil, the Antiochian Patriarch John and Georgian Patriarch Ilia also participated.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has enacted a law banning religious organizations affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church, effectively mandating that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) cease all activities within the country.

Earlier this month, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew - along with many other countries and organizations - attended the Ukraine Peace Summit. Nearly 80 countries issued a statement calling for the "territorial integrity" of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement to end Russia's two-year war. The Ecumenical Patriarch's signature was originally on that document.